As our workforce spreads across the globe, businesses need to manage international teams from afar. In fact, our commissioned research found that over a third of business managers and directors around the world are planning to allow their teams to work remotely for one or two days per week next year.
As exciting as this is, it does present a problem or two for managers trying to control and motivate their remote teams. They need to find the right balance between being a present and supportive leader without removing any of the benefits employees gain from working outside the office. Here are our top tips to help you run your global team.
Be trusting: Our study found that 56% of telecommuters believe remote working helps them concentrate, while 53% think it provides a welcome change of scenery and a way of avoiding ‘cabin fever’. As long as you trust that your team to get the job done, you can take a step back and allow them to organise and arrange their own schedules. With a more independent, confident and happier team, you should see positive outcomes in the quality of work produced.
Stay in touch: Remote management is more about providing a support framework that allows your team to stay in the loop, wherever they are. Around 86% of workers think that managers and staff should use instant messaging and phone calls to remain in contact. This shows that regular check-ins are a good thing, even if it’s just to make sure your team members have everything they need.
Provide useful tools: Software providers are becoming much more geared towards solutions for employees on the move. Project management and communication tools like Asana, Slack and Harvest can help everyone stay up to speed with your business objectives, but there are plenty more cloud-based innovations that you can try too. Take a look at accounting tools like Wave or Zendesk’s customer service solutions.
Naplánujte pravidelné porady: Ani při řízení na dálku se neobejdete bez osobních setkání. Naplánujte je s co největším předstihem, abyste tak svému týmu stanovili termín pro dokončení jejich práce. Setkání také poskytnou zaměstnancům čas a prostor na otázky týkající se aktuálních projektů.
Podělte se s ostatními: Kanceláře nadále zůstávají důležitým místem, kde probíhají zásadní debaty a kde si kolegové vyměňují nápady a inspirace. Dokonce i 69 % respondentů bez stabilní kanceláře uvedlo, že jsou pro ně co-workingové prostory vhodnou alternativou, protože jim podobně jako kancelář umožňují sdílet zkušenosti a poznatky s ostatními. Ať už se tedy rozhodnete pro pravidelné brainstormingy nebo průběžnou komunikaci po messengeru, nezapomeňte udržovat tým v dobré a kreativní náladě tím, že se podělíte o své nápady.
